How to Become A Home Health Aide in Wisconsin
Wisconsin employs approximately 82,430 home health aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $36,340 1. Nationally, home health aide employment is projected to grow 17.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 765,800 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a home health aide in Wisconsin, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming A Home Health Aide in Wisconsin
How do I become a home health aide in Wisconsin? Wisconsin requires credentials such as HOME HEALTH AIDE. The licensing authority is the WI Dept of Health Services - Division of Public Health 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? Typical requirements include approximately 2 years of experience 3.
Do I need a license in Wisconsin? Yes. Wisconsin has licensing or registration requirements for home health aides. The WI Dept of Health Services - Division of Public Health oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do home health aides earn in Wisconsin? The median annual wage for home health aides in Wisconsin is $36,340 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $28,030 and experienced professionals can earn $42,820 or more 1.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Licensing authority: WI Dept of Health Services - Division of Public Health
- Median wage (Wisconsin): $36,340 per year 1
- Exam requirement: State exam required
Home Health Aide License Requirements in Wisconsin
The WI Dept of Health Services - Division of Public Health oversees home health aide licensing in Wisconsin 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| HOME HEALTH AIDE | Registration for nurse aide’s name to be placed on the Nurse Aide Registry in order to work in federally-certified nursing homes, intermediate care facilities for persons with mental retardation (ICFs… |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
- Exam: State exam required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Home Health Aide Wages by Metro Area in Wisconsin
Home Health and Personal Care Aides Wages by Metro Area in Wisconsin
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), home health and personal care aides wages in Wisconsin vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | 93,560 | $38,860 | $40,250 | $33,760 | $46,860 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | 30,090 | $37,020 | $35,180 | $27,930 | $39,150 |
| Madison | 8,360 | $37,220 | $37,480 | $29,010 | $45,230 |
| Duluth | 5,660 | $36,390 | $37,330 | $31,240 | $44,790 |
| Green Bay | 3,540 | $35,730 | $34,630 | $27,040 | $40,490 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | 3,210 | $35,740 | $34,860 | $23,920 | $48,790 |
| Eau Claire | 2,890 | $34,340 | $34,530 | $28,620 | $42,530 |
| Appleton | 2,820 | $37,010 | $36,500 | $29,700 | $43,870 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | 2,210 | $35,700 | $33,680 | $24,020 | $38,900 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | 2,130 | $37,140 | $36,420 | $29,080 | $44,030 |
| Janesville-Beloit | 1,600 | $36,370 | $35,510 | $28,260 | $43,370 |
| Kenosha | 1,540 | $36,980 | $35,000 | $27,840 | $38,080 |
| Wausau | 1,330 | $35,910 | $35,130 | $27,560 | $42,710 |
| Sheboygan | 1,200 | $37,660 | $36,900 | $29,840 | $40,390 |
| Fond du Lac | 940 | $34,190 | $33,100 | $22,640 | $42,010 |
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
Top Metros for Home health aides in Wisconsin
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest home health aide employment within Wisconsin according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | 30,090 | $37,020 |
| Madison | 8,360 | $37,220 |
| Green Bay | 3,540 | $35,730 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | 3,210 | $35,740 |
| Eau Claire | 2,890 | $34,340 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for home health aides in Wisconsin? Wisconsin currently employs approximately 82,430 home health aides 1. Nationally, home health aide employment is projected to grow 17.0% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as a home health aide in Wisconsin with an out-of-state license? Contact the WI Dept of Health Services - Division of Public Health for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Wisconsin? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Wisconsin.
How much do home health aides earn in Wisconsin compared to the national average? The median annual wage for home health aides in Wisconsin is $36,340, which is $1,440 above the national median of $34,900 according to BLS data 1.
Citations
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
WI Dept of Health Services - Division of Public Health - Licensing Information: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/foodmanager.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |